Graffiti Removal

Reporting Graffiti

Want to report graffiti on public (city-owned) property?

Is there graffiti on your private property?

Consider filing a police report by phoning 503-629-0111. Once the report is complete, you can remove the graffiti with our helpful tips and tricks - read below!

Removing Graffiti

Graffiti is a nuisance and an eyesore. It can affect your business, home property values and the overall livability of your neighborhood.

The City of Beaverton Graffiti Abatement Program is always ready to eliminate this unsightly blemish from any and all city property. However, just because someone tagged your private property doesn’t mean you have to go it alone!

Here are few helpful hints and resources to assist you in reclaiming your property from would-be vandals:

GET ON IT! The sooner you get to it, the easier it will be. Most paints take several hours and sometimes a few days to dry completely. Cold, humid weather can slow this process further. This is great news for you! We recommend immediate action.

START SIMPLE! Sometimes, our first instinct is to go for the heavy duty option first, but this isn’t always the best choice. Sometimes (especially if you clean it immediately), you can remove graffiti with just soap, hot water and a little elbow grease. Not only is this better for your health and the environment, but it can also help prevent damage to the surface under the graffiti. Start with the light stuff, and then step it up as needed.

STAY SMART! If the stubborn tag still won’t go away and you decide to up the ante by using a cleaning agent, it’s important that you choose the right product and use it properly. Many people opt for citrus-based cleaners because they are less harmful to humans, pets and the environment, but you should always continue to exercise caution; these products can still be dangerous if ingested or introduced to the eyes. This warning goes double if you decide to use a chemical solvent. Make sure you wear protective clothing (i.e. gloves, safety glasses, appropriate clothing) and, as with all chemical products, READ AND FOLLOW THE LABEL! And finally, make sure you test all cleaning products in an inconspicuous place to be sure it won’t damage the underlying surface.

ASK QUESTIONS! OK, you’ve tried and tried, but that nasty graffiti just won’t go… don’t fret! You can always contact the city to get some new ideas. Call Zander Doby at 503-350-4090, or send an email to adoby@beavertonoregon.gov and he can help you find the right solution to your graffiti problem.

Other Removal Resources

Disclaimer: Please be advised that the City of Beaverton makes no recommendations regarding the use of specific products. Neither does the city make any representation that the products and techniques described are always safe and effective. Any products and all techniques described should be tested for safety and performance before broad application and use.

What Can You Do to Help?

Parents:Many taggers proudly sport samples of their "art" on books or notebooks. Some even carry tagging scrapbooks, complete with samples of their writing. They may also carry copies of magazines which support the tagging trade. Check their fingers for paint. Do they wear baggy pants and loose shirts? This type of clothing can easily hide cans of spray paint.

Teachers:Take notice of graffiti on notebooks, desks, homework and in lockers, as well as students with paint on their fingers. Report this immediately to school security people.

Community Members:Graffiti hurts everyone and can destroy a neighborhood. The community has a responsibility to maintain their neighborhoods, and keep them graffiti-free. When an area is hit again and again by graffiti, citizens feel the area is not safe and it serves as a welcome mat to more serious crime. In order to defeat the vandals, and keep our neighborhoods safe, we all have to continually be on top of the problem! Paint over graffiti on your property as soon as it appears! Not only is it easier to clean fresh graffiti, but it discourages future tags. Taggers seek visibility. Prompt removal denies them visibility, which will cause fewer future attacks.

Businesses:Participate in the Beaverton Police Department's Responsible Retailer Program and keep spray paint out of the hands of minors.

Educate Yourself and Your Community

Share this information.

Teach young people to respect their environment rather than vandalize it.

Ask business owners to remove graffiti from their property.

Become involved in your Business or Neighborhood Association and help to make graffiti removal a priority.